THE PLACE: Bar Goto is a narrow unmarked cocktail den in the Lower East Side that has become legendary in the craft cocktail world. The bar is the main centerpiece, but a few intimate tables wrap around it and a serious, but casual mood is set by the expert bartenders and wait staff. It’s both a neighborhood spot and a full-on drink destination.
THE MENU: I’ve loved everything I’ve tried here over the years. The menu of drinks and snacks is Japanese-focused. The Sakura Martini is an especially smooth unique take on a classic martini, the okonomiyaki (cabbage pancakes) are delectable, and the sake list is very impressive. Yet there is one surprising bar snack on their menu that is raved about left and right as one of the greatest bar snacks in the entire city. And it’s really just a plate of vegetables.
THE DISH: I used to snack on celery as a kid – either naked or slathered with peanut butter and raisins. However, I was not lucky enough to have it the way Bar Goto serves it. Here it pairs perfectly with their subtle umami-laden cocktails. The Kombu Celery really is just a bowl of fresh, crunchy celery ribs that are sprinkled with the Japanese version of everything spice: dried red shisho leaves, bits of kombu (seaweed) and salty, nutty sesame seeds. It’s all held together with a kiss of sesame oil and soy sauce. Crunchy, salty, sweet, and amazingly healthy. Forget Nachos and wings, somehow celery tops the city’s best bar snack. Price: $9
| BAR GOTO |
| 1004 Second Avenue (at East 53rd Street), Midtown East (212) 837-1791 |
| animonyc.com |
